Direction-indicator.



J. .INGELLS. QIRECTION INDICATOR. APPLICATION man OCT. 5. ms.

Patented Ja n. 8,1918.

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Be itknown that 1, JAMES INenLLs, a citizenof-theUnited States, residing at- Musketors, of which the following i dfi ,cation.

f i merit for the-"purposes stated. 20

gm, in the county of Muskegon-an'd State of Michigan,- have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Direction-Indica- This invention relates to improvements in appliances forindicating' in which direction an autoinobileis' about to 'proceed to turn',. or if it is to stop,-or is standing still, and its objects are: first,'x-to.indicate to.

.-, anyone either ahead of, or behind- ;the automobile whether the automobile is to proceed directly ahead, to turn to the right, to the left, or to stop, and,'sec0nd, to provi de a'n lnexpensne andthoroughly reliable imple- ;I attain these obj ects by the mechanism llustrated in-the accompanying drawing, in

which Figure '1 is an en'delevation, and Fig. V2 is frontnelevation ofthe implei'nent w.

3 181a frontielevationof one endof them closing case showing-how the ring that supports the inner or --indicator"'case"i s-con nected therewith F ig." 4: is a longitudinal section of the indicator on; the line of actuating. eord'.orstrap;lfig. F -is atrans- Verse section ofjthe; supporting hub ofthe inner'case; Fig.8. i'sa Iikeaiiew .of there,- flectorylfiq. 9 is a transverse section of the bulb supporting fiange'with the supporting tube in place. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the-sereral views,

In :theconstruction of this implementl provide an inclosing caseconsisting ofthe side :walls '1 niadeof verv th'insheet metal having a series ofrlslotsic, therethrough for the passage of the lugs a on the offsets a i on the-ends 2, 2 o'f thecase. :The endsyof the case are practically the .forln shown 'in p i 'Fig. The length shown zinl ig. from V ,lines acrossnearfthe ends of the lugsr-a is the edge of the 'end piece Q" to the dotted designed. to dgor m offset bearings a: for the endslo'fthe casing-(sides l, betweenthe lugs I vproper and he outer surfaces of the-ends,

as indicated in Figs. 2., and 4. I prefer that the corhers, p, of the ends 2 he so mnnerron-rnfnica ronn formed that. they-may be bent on the lines it, see Fig. to formbearingsthrough which the screws e, 2 may. be, passed and secured for securingthe casing and front Specification of Letters Patent. 'Paftenfg edi; Jl' am 85,1918, Application filed ember 5,- 1916. Serial No. 123,984. 1

firmly in place 'upon the ends 2, 2, and when forming these lugs I aim to set-their-outer surfaces back from the edges of the ends a the thickness of the metal from whichth'e.

casing is inade, asindicated' at m, 4 m in Fig-1,and by the (lOttHIliIlQS n n in" Fig. m, in Fig. 2 represent the edges of thelcasing as indicated at m, m in Fig. 1.. Grepresents the glas'sfront of the outside casing,jand this. is-secured to the casing bynie'ans of the frame 2.4., the flanges '0 of which are lappedover the surface of the casing 1-,*

as shown at 0, 0 in Fig. 1Qand'indicatedat.

0, in Fig. 4, and is securedthereto by means of the same screws, 6, e that 'securethe edges of the-casing tot-he ends 2.

ends 1 each an, oflset 2."

forms'a chamber or bearing for the 'reception and free revoluble action of' thein'ner case supports 8, 8' that are formed with flanges 8, see Fig. "7, designed-to bear upon the supporting rings 16, as indicated in Figs; 3 and. 4 the rings-16 having'central holes of a proper size "so the" bearings 8. 8

anay pass fr'eelythroughthem and-revolve "freely therein. O-ne otthe bearings Sis at rangedto have a cord or strap 20 connected therewith and passed through the opening 19 in the oifset 2;at one end o:t-.-the'case, and thence to any conienient position-so the operator may inani iiulate the indicator"case inside of the inclosing case 12.- a l The indicator-case is made 1up. of ;tl1e bearings 8; one at .eacl1*en -1, 1netal corners .22, secured at the ends to the fiangesS' of the bearings 8-, and glass "panels 21, oneoh each ofthe four sidesot the case ends or bearings,to.forn1 a casefor the storage ofth electric bulbs 12, andfor carrying thedndi cator symbols. Tiand 7. These 'synibolsare forme'dfin, or. through i'erywthin "metal, or' [other suitable finaterial; as indicated a'tb23 and may be in the forinof arrows, [as indi catedin Fig.1, in which case there must be an arrow on each offtwo sides of the case: one pointing to the right, RS111 Fig.1, and the other pointingto' the left-so asto: readily designate whjclrw turned; @pposn .513 the autoijnobile isijto be are:

.the indicator symbols, as theamrd PG .as. in}

dicated in invertedposition intliesectioual view of the case in Fig. 4, at 7, or, if it is desired to stop the automobile following,

the word Stop or other suitable'word, or, even, a red light may be displayed. It is, also, desirable to have the glass 21-, that covers each symbol, of different colors as, 'for nstance, a red glass for-one symbol a blue glass for another, a green glass an a Y yellow glass for others, &c. In Fig. 4 I ave lndicated the symbol as behind a. green glass.

In the use of indicators of this class it has always. been found diflicult to properly distribute the light inside, or back of the symbol' case. I obviate .this diiiiculty by placing a small concave reflector, as 1'17, in each end of the case within the bearing g, and properly place electric light bulbs 12 to equally difl'use light throughout the entire inside of the indicator case, .and each and "every part of the symbol will be as clear and distinct as each and every other part thereof. I provide for carrying the indicator case back into normal position after it has been operated by the use of the strap '20. by connecting a spring 25, at one end to the hear ing 8, as at 7', and the other end to the offset 2 of the case end, as at i, so the recoil of the spring will alwaysvreturn the indicator case into normal position as soon as the strap or cord 20 is released. 1 My manner of supporting the electric bulbs in this indicator consists in placing a. suitable hub, as 9, upon each end of the case, and securing it there by any available.

85 means, asby the screw 7, and screws or rivets k, k. I then screw, or otherwise secure a suitable tubular bearing. as 1.0, into, or through each hub. The necks of the bulbs 12 are inserted into the inner ends of these v4O tubes and a nonconducting substance 11 is inserted intothe outer end of each of the tubes, as indicated in Fi 4, so that the bulbs are held rigidly in place while the indicator case and the reflectors are revolving around them.

7 The electric current for illuminating the indicator after dark is conducted over the conductor wires stored in the casing 18, over the posts 17 and the wires 13 t0 the bulbs 12, and returned through the metal case by proper connections, as at a, c.

I provide for storing and protecting the electric conductor wires 13, 13 by means of a casing 3 that covers the tubular connec- 65 tion 10, and is provided with an arm i that passes back'into position to be secured to the end flanges 2', as indicated at g, gin Fig. 1, and the casing 3 may be secured to the hub 9 by any available means as, for instance,

the screw f.

I have provided for securing the ring 16 to the end flange 2', at each ,end of the case, by forming lugs b on the flange 2' and bending them inward over the edge ofthe rings,"as

- indicated in Figs. 3 and 6.

15 indicates an air chamber between the indicator case and the inclosing case, designed to protect the indicator case from sudden exposure to extreme cold, and thus protecting the glass over the symbols, but inside of the inclosing case, and d represents a hole through the bearing 8, the reflector 14 and the hub 9 for the passage of the tube 10.

This indicator may be secured to the vehicle by any of the well known devices for securing this class of indicators to vehicles, and at any place on the vehicle that may be desired, and it may be used at the front end, or at the hind end, or both ends of the vehicle, as desired; and the connections between the indicator and the chauffeur may be of any of the well known devices or connections now in use for the purpose, or for similar purposes, as the indicator .is not designed exclusively for use upon automobiles, but may be used in various places where such devices may be made available. 7

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a direct-ion indicator for automobiles, an outer case, a revoluble indicator case mounted therein, and having direction indicating symbols mounted thereon, a ring mounted in each end of the stationary case, a bearing formed on each end of the revoluble case and fitted to revolve freely in the rings, an electric light bulb mounted in each end of the stationary case and extending into the revoluble case, reflectors properly mounted in the revoluble case to illuminatethe symbols, electric connections with the bulbs, and means for revolving the inner case to expose the desired symbols.

2. In a direction indicator, astationary case, a revoluble case mounted inside the stationary case and having indicator symbols thereon, a transparent front in the stationary case to disclose the said symbols, rings mounted in the ends of the stationary case for revolubly supporting the revoluble case, a strap connected with one end of the revoluble case, a spring connected with the other end of the revoluble case and with the stationary case, means for properly actuating therevoluble case through the medium of the strap and spring, a concave reflector mountedin each cild. of the revoluble case, and facing to the center of the said case, an electric light-bulb mounted in each end of the stationary case wholly within the revoluble case; and proper electric connection with said electric light bulbsl 3. In a direction indicator, an outer case constructed with ends, lugs extending inward and having their ends turned outward "at right angles, a casing extending partly clamping lugs on the ends, chambers formed in the ends of the case, a ring mounted in each end of this case and secured therein by bending the clamping lugs over its edges,

a revoluble inner case. having outwardly pressed end bearings arranged to be passed through the rings in the outer caseand revolve freely therein, electric light bulbs mounted at the ends of the outer case, and .concave reflectors mounted 1n theends of the inner case back of, and concentric with the light bulbs.

4. In a. direction indicator, an outer case having a chamber offset in each end, a hub and a tubular bearing connected Witheach.

end of the outer case, electric light bulbs mounted 'in said tubular bearings, proper electric connections with said bulbs,a guard connected With each end of the outer case for protecting the electrical. Wire connec:

tions, a supporting ring mounted in each end ofthe stationary case, an indicator case revolubly mounted in the supporting rings within the stationary chamber; in combina; tion with concave reflectors mounted in he ends of the indicator case around the electric light bulbs.

5. In a direction indicator, ends having lugs turned inward at right angles to form bearings, then outward to forin'retaining lugs, a metal casing having slots in the ends to receive the retaining lugs and form a stationary chamber having a transparent opening, tubular bearingsformed in the ends of the stationary chamber, electric light bulbs securely mounted"v in said-bearings, proper electric co'nnectiohs with the bulbs, 21 revoluble case moun led in the stationary chamber m'eans for p operly actuating said revoluble case, reflectors so mounted in the revoluble'case as to producean equal distribution of light through the indicator symbols.

Signed at'Muskegon, Michigan, September 29, 1916.

J ES INGELLS. 

